In / Out

One of the most effective ways to expand a homes living space is through the creation of outdoor rooms.  In the RBI projects shown here we've optimized living potential by taking full advantage of the adjacent outdoors.  The expansion can be as simple as a fire bowl and lounge chairs.   Or fully realized with sumptuous furnishing  in spaces that provide weather protection, temperature, lighting + A/V controls.......... and everything in between.  Resort living without ever leaving home.    

BEND Bunny Lounge Chair / SOLUS Fire Bowl

CORO Shot Table + Fellini Chairs 

Lofty

In addition to the visual aesthetics we create, It occurs to me that one of the goals of interior design is unseen.  Working towards the making of a place that emits an emotion of unity, where everything is alright with the world.  Spaces that bring together past, present and room for the future, possessing a soul of their own.  A lofty goal (for sure) but one worthy of pursuing in an attempt to achieve the simple feeling, of a perfect comfort ( both mental + physical ) in one's place of shelter.  

The Interior Design Show West, takes place September 27-30 at the Vancouver Convention Centre.  The show highlights the latest in furniture and interior design related products.  Interior Designers of Canada is hosting the popular 'What's your design dilemma?', located at the IDC booth.  Where registered interior designers provide a free (15 min.) consultation tackling attendees design challenges.  Enjoy the show.   

Library

My fascination with books started as a young child.  They have fostered my desire and my ability to form a way of seeing.   Throughout the years I have continually collected books in an effort to better understand the world, and experience the way others see it. Although devises like the iPad are changing the way we think about books, my delight is still found in turning pages and pondering both image and text.    Via Amazon I've enjoyed creating a personal book shop, including many of the titles I own and many more to be acquired + pored over.  Knowledge and beauty there can never be enough.  RBI Book Stack, here.

Fun Places

For me the bottom line in hospitality design is to create a welcoming place for guests to enjoy themselves.  Simply said, places to have fun in! Interior architecture and decor can help facilitate a positive guest experience and one that inspires an encore of that experience, again + again.  The current issue of Gray magazine features KOKO restaurant and bar, a project of ours that I believe fulfills that mandate.   Much appreciation to Gray Magazine and  Angela Cabotaje, for her concise text.

Schematic

When I began this on-line journal, my intention was to write about the firms activity, our processes and our results.  To add more meaning to the images on our web site.  It's proven to be quite an education. Words are not my natural method of communicating design thoughts. I'm much more comfortable using images. That's why drawing has been my premier tool when working with clients to construct the visual direction of their projects.  This is especially true during our schematic design phase, it's a time of free associations, and rarely linear or methodical.

For the renovation of a ski resort property our design development presentation (sketches and collages) , starts to identify a point of view.  We wanted to stray from the predictable alpine cliches, and grow our own concept of 'ski lodge'. Taking cues from diverse places and building in parts,  to form a whole. This schematic direction can now be applied throughout our process and adopted into all our aesthetic decisions.     

Noting this is my one hundredth blog entry, I look to the future + working to better articulate what we do, are doing, have done..... with visual assistance, of course!

Canada Day / Contemporist Apartment

We're celebrating Canada Day with the inclusion of our Silver Sea Project, featured on the Contemporist today.  A big Canadian thank you to the team at the Contemporist.  Photographs are by Josh Dunford.   Bedside table, Ceccotti Collection, Storica-international.  Baccarat Abysse Lamp.      

Work Life

The office (for many of us) is the centre of our work lives and we likely spend more of our waking hours there, than we do in our homes. Contemporary research and thinking have shifted the way we experience the work place of today, both in terms of productivity and worker happiness.   When we were asked to design new offices for Deans Knight Capital Management, we set out to create a place that not only supported work task, but also work life. The dematerialized office place (taking down walls) facilitates better communications and collaboration, but requires greater emphasis on the quality of the space for all (equality).  To balance the open plan we designed community hospitality spaces that enable privacy, conferencing or just a tête-à-tête over coffee at the island bar. 

Visually we were inspired by the classic mid-century offices, created by the likes of Florence Knoll and SOM.  Expropriating a confident material palette and modesty of form, reinterpreted in spaces that promote the work style of our time.  These preview shots were taken on move day, more of the project to follow both here and on our web site soon.

Condo Remix

The Spring/Summer issue of Western Living Condo, remixes a project feature from last falls Dream Home edition.  Many thanks to Michael Harris (Editor) + his publication team, for the  appreciable coverage and on going attention to our work, in the pages of their magazines. 

Serendipity

Savage Beauty

By happy coincidence, when I was in New York last month (to begin a new project), my client asked if I'd like to accompany her to an Alexander McQueen fall preview luncheon.  I've been an admirer of McQueen from his early (rather dark) break out days, and Savage Beauty has topped my coffee table since the Met exhibition (2011). Sarah Burton who now leads the house of McQueen hosted the event, in the SOHO showroom of BDDW.  It was an extraordinary pairing of visual uniqueness.  In addition to the beautiful feathery garments on mannequins we were treated to the an inspiring runway presentation.  The innovative BDDW showroom was the perfect foil, for these fluid silhouettes.  As an interior designer every visual experience is stored in our collected memory, playing a role to fashion our own aesthetic perspective.  This one rocked.

Fall 2012 Alexander McQueen 

BDDW SOHO, NYC

Pas de Deux

There are a multitude of design decisions required in the forming of a great bathroom.  Perhaps it is the scale of this room which demands such a heightened process and attention to detail, constituting one of my favourite design exercises.  In this shared master bath we strove to achieve a harmony in performance.  Balancing material, form and appliance, to create a functional space for two, that is also a beautiful retreat.  The bathroom is part of an extensive (gut) renovation to a heritage home, where we created new classic spaces to demonstrate a notion about time-honored quality and style.

The large format limestone tile anchors and bookends all white fixtures and cabinets, imparting warmth to the minimalist geometry.  A series of Vistosi spun glass wall fixtures add beauty light, and a glamourous gesture.

'The basic rules of proportion and scale are unchanging.  They are reinterpreted according to the needs of the time.  I like simplicity and I believe in restraint.  Above all, there should be harmony-of proportion, line, colour, and feeling.  The most important element in decorating is the relationship between objects-in size, form, texture, colour and meaning.  None of these is in good taste in itself but only in relationship to where it has been placed and what purpose it is to serve.'  Eleanor McMillen Brown.  The legendary interior designer's contribution is documented in the book Sixty years of interior design; the world of McMillen.

Set Up

Custom steel fireplace cladding

A few weeks ago we installed a lake house project in Naramata BC, I've posted its progress along the way (both here + here + here). Installation days are always gratifying. This one was even more so, having worked thoughtfully with our wonderful client over a 2 year period, to create a very special place for family and friends to enjoy.   Our mantra throughout the process was 'Cabin' (albeit a rather cultivated take). From initial space planning and architectural design, through interior finishes and fittings, we returned to this central maxim. Raising a home to last for generations that is unpretentious both inside and out with a forthright purpose for pleasure.  

Playful light fixtures by, Moooi, Bocci + Foscarini

Selecting furnishing, we ventured to make a place that felt less designed and more of a curated collection.  Accompanying the numerous custom designed furniture pieces, is an assemblage of items that express their plain speaking roots.  Sculpted stools/tables by Brent Comber + Riva 1920,  rocking chair from Gervasoni, E15 dining table with Roda dining chairs, Mater counter stools, lamps by Christian Liaigre, Flexform, Prandina and Porta Romana.

The lake front residence will make it's way to our web site later this summer once art and accessories are in place and the landscaping has taken hold.  Snap shots here, were taken during our 2 day set up.

Bocci

The phenomenally successful Vancouver based company Bocci, produce extraordinary lighting objects.  In a world inundated with contemporary light product, theirs stands apart.  Modern fixtures that recall an ancient or almost primitive representation of candlepower. Creative director Omer Arbel's refined craft objects are imprinted with the hand of man and present humble materials in an honest unrepeated way.  Each form being unique.  The 21 Series pictured here, in photos from our recent lake house project installation.  Shows the delicate porcelain fittings artistically cascading, from a pop up ceiling over the central staircase.  The fixture reinvents itself from every angle and by time of day.  More of this project to follow.

Bocci 21 Series

Luxury Home Canada

Featured in the spring issue of Luxury Home Canada is a Designer Showcase profiling the work of our firm (pages 113-119).   I'm very grateful for the publication's interest in our creations and for the reflective text by Isabel Eva Bohrer.    All photographs are by Josh Dunford.

Admittedly I am an extremely lucky man, able to practice in the field of my interest, everyday.  Being an interior designer is not so much what I do, as it is who I am.  

'I am hauted by a passion to build.' Jean Pouvre.

Luxury Home Canada takes its readers into residences large and small, showcasing the people, projects, designs and products that make up the custom home industry.

Things Change

There's been a lot going on at the office these days.  With several exciting new projects on our screens, comprehensive installations plus personnel changes of note.

After five years as a highly valued member of my studio, Chad Falkenberg is moving on to further his design career.  Chad has been an intently engaged part of RBI and his commitment and care, have been central to the success of so much of our work.   Chad most certainly will be missed, but I know he will flourish on his chosen path, and wish him great joy in all his endeavours. 

The vocation of interior design is a life of learning, discovery is around every corner.  The only thing that does not change, is change.

Mobile Site

This week we launched two new RBI sites for iPhone + iPad mobile devices.  We wanted our mobile sites have the ease of operation that our site for computers offers.  Simple + straightforward.  My theory of design has the same starting point for all disciplines, 'Intuitive Common Sense; with sound and prudent judgment based on a simple perception of the situation and facts'.   Aesthetics grow out of resolving functional requirements.  In my opinion anything that prioritizes look over function is more than a miss, it's broken.  With these two additions to our on-line presence, I believe we've accomplished easy navigation plus good looks.  Many thanks to Burnkit for their development + design expertise, to make these sites work deftly.